Brussels bombings: Attackers identified, manhunt continues for one suspect

Overnight developments:

• Brothers named as Brussels bombers

• Paris bombmaker named as third suicide attacker

• Turkey held and deported one attacker

• Manhunt continues for third man in airport attack

• Zaventem airport remains closed to passengers, cargo

Belgian authorities have identified all three of the Islamic terrorists who carried out the suicide attacks at Brussels’ airport and a metro station near the European Commission and Parliament buildings.

A fourth man, who was pictured arriving at the airport terminal, is still being sought. Police are also seeking a Mohammed Abrini, though it is not clear whether he is also one of the attackers.

Two of the suicide bombers were named as Ibrahim El Bakraoui, a 29, and his brother, Khalid, 27. Both were born in Belgium.

Ibrahim was one of two suicide bombers who blew themselves up in the check-in area of the airport terminal while an hour later Khalid blew himself up at the Maelbeek metro station.

Links to Paris attacks
The other suicide bomber at the airport has been named as Najim Laachraoui, who is said to be the fugitive bomb-maker in the Paris attacks that killed 130 last November.

The Belgian capital remains on high alert a day after at least 31 people (other than the attackers) were killed and around 270 wounded in the coordinated attacks.

These came just days after investigators in Brussels thought they had made a breakthrough in their fight against the Islamic State cell by capturing live Salah Abdeslam, 26, the last suspected Paris attacker.

He is due to appear in a Brussels court later today and is expected to be remanded in custody for another month.

French authorities are seeking Abdeslam's extradition so he can be tried for his alleged role in the November 13 bomb-and-gun attacks on a concert hall, cafés and the national football stadium in Paris.

Manhunt continues for airport attacker
Belgian police are still chasing the man on the right-hand side of the airport picture, above. He was wearing a light jacket and a hat. He fled shortly before the explosions, leaving behind a large bag.

Airport authorities have announced all aircraft movements will not be resumed until at least Saturday, despite Easter being one of the busiest holiday periods in Europe.

Meanwhile, Turkey's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has revealed authorities there detained Ibrahim El Bakraoui last July at the Syrian border.

Brussels authorities were informed but as they did not establish any links to terrorism he was deported to the Netherlands.

Islamic network based Brussels
The Brussels bombings have intensified scrutiny of a network of Islamist radicals raised in heavily Muslim districts of Brussels.

Financed by the proceeds of crime in Belgium, the network of French-speaking radicals sent dozens of people to Syria starting in 2012, according to court documents.

Once there, they tended to be lower-level fighters in the ranks of Islamic State.

Some are now in prison in Belgium while others have died fighting in Syria. An unknown number could be at large elsewhere in Europe and possibly plotting further attacks. 

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